Window shade



Feb. 7, 1939. R, GUYER 2,146,182

WINDOW SHADE Filed March 28, 1936 .3 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor Reynolds Guyer Jlttorneqs Feb. 7, 1939. R. GUYER 2,146,182

WINDOW SHADE Filed March 28, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor Reynolds Guyev Feb17, 1939. R UYER 2,146,182

WINDOW SHADE Filed March 28, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Inventor Reynolds Guyev T Z r 7 1" a A 449/ 5'1 41 5 i4 0 151; JgM

Jlitorneqs Patented Feb. 7, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE wnmow SHADE Application March 28, 1936, Serial No. 71,424

4 Claims.

My invention relates to window shades and has for an object to provide an inexpensive shade which resembles in appearance a Venetian blind.

Another object of the invention resides in providing window shade constructed of paper or some other similar flexible material scored transversely along spaced parallel lines and folded in opposite directions to provide two series of panels, hingedly connected together at their edges and foldable into juxtaposition or into angular position, the suns rays shining directly through the panels of one series and indirectly through the panels of the other series.

A still further object of the invention resides in constructing the first named panels translucent to a certain degree and the second named panels less translucent.

An object of the invention resides in forming the second named translucent panels by providing thereon printed colored coatings.

A feature of the invention resides in providing printed coatings along the inner edges of the first named translucent panels to give the panels the appearance of having appreciable thickness.

Another object of the invention resides in providing narrow printed coatings on the first named panels extending between the above named coatings for giving said panels the appearance of having tapes attached thereto.

Other objects of the invention reside in the novel combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter illustrated and/or described.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a window illustrating a shade embodying my invention applied thereto.

' greater part of the sunlight which strikes the shade directly and only permitting reflected rays of sunlight to pass through the shade. This is accomplished in a manner which will presently become apparent.

For the purpose of illustrating the application of my invention, I have shown in the drawings an ordinary window B which consists of a frame 3| constructed with upright frame members 32 and 33 and a header 34 at the upper portion thereof together with a sill 35 at the lower portion thereof. Within the frame 3| is slidably mounted a lower window sash 36 and an upper window sash 3'! which are guided for vertical sliding movement by means of stops 38 and 39 and a moulding 4| extending about the frame members 32, 33 and 34.

My improved shade may be constructed of any suitable flexible translucent sheet material such as paper, prepared cloth, cellulose products or similar products. Applicant has constructed a number of shades from a, paper which is quite translucent and which operates to diffuse the light passing through the same. The shade illustrated is assured to be constructed from such material. The blank from which the window shade is constructed, is illustrated in Fig. 5, and is indicated in its entirety by the reference character A. This blank is scored throughout the intermediate portion thereof along lines l0 and H which are spaced from one another to form two series of panels alternating with respect to one another. The panels of one series are indicated by the reference numerals l2 and the panels of the other series are indicated by the reference numerals l3. The blank is folded along the score lines 10 and II in opposite directions so that the panels I 2 and I 3 may occupy positions such as shown in Fig. 1 in which the panels l2 incline away from the window and the panels l3 incline toward the window. The material from which the blank A is constructed is of a flexible nature so that the lines of fold of the blank at the score lines It! and H form hinges, whereby the panels 12 and I3 may be moved relative to one another to permit the shade to occupy the positions shown 40 either in Fig. 1 or in Fig. 4.

The upper end of the shade is scored along lines l4, I5, 16 and 11, the lines 14 and I5 being close to one another and the lines 16 and I1 similarly disposed relative to one another. The distance between the lines I5 and I6 and between the line I! and the upper line H] is substantially equal to. the width of the panels [2 and I 3. By means of this construction three panels l8, l9 and 2| are formed which are of substantially the same width as the panels 12 and I3 and two narrow panels 22 and 23 are provided which are disposed between said first named panels.

For supporting the upper end of the shade a slat 24 is employed which is shown in detail in Figs. 2 and 4. This slat is attached to the shade by wrapping the panels |8, l9 and 2| about the slat and by attaching said panels to the slat by gluing or otherwise. The shade is supported from the window B by means of screws 26 which pass through the slat 24 and through spacers 21 disposed between said slat and the moulding 4| of header 34. These screws are screwed into said moulding and maintain the slat 24 spaced from the same.

The lower end of the blank A is similarly con-; structed with score lines 42, 43, 44 and 45 which form panels 46, 41 and 48 similar to panels |8, l9 and 2| and which also provide narrow panels 49 and corresponding to panels 22 and 23.

At the lowermost portion of the blank A is provided another slat 52 similar to the slat 24 which is secured to the shade through the panels 41, 45 and 48 by wrapping the said panels about the slat and by gluing the same or otherwise securing said panels thereto.

For drawing the shade the following construction is used. In the panels l2 and I3 are constructed openings 53 and 54 which are arranged one above the other in two spaced columns and which register with one another when the panels are folded into juxtaposition as shown in Fig. 4. These holes are preferably medially of the front and back edges of the panels and are disposed inwardly from the lateral edges 55 and 56 of blank A. In the slats 24 and 25 and opposite the openings 53 and 54 in the panels l2 and |3 are provided eyelets 51 and 58 which are secured to the said slats in the customary manner. Two cords 61 and 68 extend through the openings 53 and 54 and through the eyelets 51 and 58 and are knotted at their lower ends as indicated at 59 to prevent said cords from passing through the eyelets 58. By drawing these cords the shade may be raised from its position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 4 and by releasing the said cords the weight of the slat 52 and the shade itself cause the shade to drop and to occupy the position shown in Fig. 2.

The principal feature of the invention consists in rendering certain portions of certain of the panels less translucent than portions of the other panels so as to exclude all or a part of the sunlight which directly strikes the shade and to permit of the entry of reflected or indirect sunlight through the more translucent panels. This is accomplished as follows: Upon the panels l3 are provided printed coatings 6| which are colored in any desired manner to produce any desired screen effect. In the drawings these coatings are shown as extending throughout the entire surfaces of the panels I 3, though it can readily be comprehended that, if desired, said coatings may only partly cover said panels. It will be noted that the panels l3 are arranged so that the direct sunlight strikes the said panels and so that indirect sunlight reaches the other panels l2. These latter panels are provided with areas which have no printing thereon and which are, therefore, more translucent than the printed areas of the companion panels and consequently admit the greater portion of the reflected light. It will thus be comprehended that a soft diffused light is transmitted through the shade which completely lacks glare and which at the same time produces sufficient visibility.

For the purpose of enhancing the appearance of the shade and causing the same to more nearly simulate in appearance the ordinary type of Venetian blind, printed coatings 63 are provided on the panels |2 which extend along the score lines These coatings are extremely narrow and when the shade is erected, as shown in Fig. 1, give the panels the appearance of having appreciable thickness, the same as the wood panels of an ordinary Venetian, blind. In addition to these coatings other printed coatings 64 and 65 are employed which are disposed on the panels I2 and which are arranged one above the other and in proximity to the openings 53 and 54. These printed coatings form in conjunction two bands which extend vertically of the shade and which give the appearance of the tapes ordinarily used with Venetian blinds.

The use of the invention is obvious. The shades are attached by means of screws 26, as previously described, and the cords 61 and 68 which project through the eyelets 51 run through the space 55 between the slat 24 and the moulding 4| of header 34 of window B. These cords may be run through a screw eye 69 attached to the moulding 4| and drop to a suitable elevation where the same are readily accessible. When it becomes desirable to raise the shade, the two cords 61 and 68 are drawn and the lowermost of the panels are caused to be brought into juxtaposition. As the shade is raised more of these panels become so disposed until the panels are all in juxtaposi-,

tion, as shown in Fig. 4. For holding the shade completely raised, a suitable fastening device may be used which would be attached to the frame, and to which cords would be secured. Such construction forming no particular feature of the invention, has not been shown in the drawings.

My invention is highly attractive in appearance. My improved window shade closely resem bles in appearance a Venetian blind. The shade operates in a manner to produce extremely soft diffused light wholly free from glare. My improved shade may be raised and lowered in exactly the same manner as a Venetian blind and raises from the lower end thereof to permit of securing ventilation through the lower sash of the window.

Changes in the specific form of my invention, as herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A window shade comprising a plurality of elongated panels hingedly connected together along their lateral edges and foldable into juxtaposition or into angular position, said panels when in angular position being arranged in two series, the panels of one series in certain zones thereof being translucent, and the panels of the other series in corresponding zones thereof being less translucent. I

2. A window shade comprising two series of panels, the panels of one series being arranged alternately with the panels of the other series, the panels of one series being translucent, and the panels of the other series being less trans-- lucent, said panels being arranged in inclined position and said last named panels being arranged to intercept direct sunlight. V

3. A window shade comprising two series of panels, the panels of one series being arranged alternately with the panels of the other series, said panels being hingedly connected together along their lateral edges and foldable into juxtaposition or into angular position, the panels of one series being translucent and the panels of the other series being less translucent, said\, last named panels when in certain angular positions intercepting sunlight.

4. A window shade comprising two series of panels, the panels of one series being arranged alternately with the panels of the other series, the panels of one series being translucent at certain zones and the panels of the other series being less translucent at the corresponding zones, said panels being arranged in inclined position and said last named panels being arranged to intercept direct sunlight.

REYNOLDS GUYER. 

